Drop pit apparatus



New, 193%. L. :3. HOLMES DROP PIT APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l L. 9. omes $78,632

DROP PIT APPARATUS Filed Hay l, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nam F, i g.

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DROP PIT APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1936 3 3&eets-Sheet 5 Patented ov. 7, 1939 D301 PET APPARATUS Louis D. Holmes, Harvey, Ill, assignor to Whiting Corporation, Harvey, 111., a corporation of Illincis Application May 1, 1936, Serial No. 77,319

12 illainis.

The invention relates to drop pit mechanism for handling wheels and trucks used in railway equipment.

, @ne object of the invention is to provide a combination or sectional drop-table of this type in which the inner section is adapted to travel on the lifting mechanism crosswise of the pit so that its load, after being transferred in the pit to another track, can be shifted to either side of the pit and onto the floor track at either side of the pit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination or sectional drop-table of this type with means for locking the inner section against the side wall of the pit and protecting it against tipping while transferring the load from said section. This object is attained by providing locking bars on the inner section which engage pockets in the side walls of the pit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination or sectional drop-table of this type in which the inner table section is locked in its correct position to pass vertically into the opening in the outer table section. This object is attained primarily by means carried by the liftmg carriage for latching the inner table section in such position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination or sectional drop-table in which retractible engaging members, such as wheels, are provided for the inner section, so that both sections of the table can be directly engaged and lifted or lowered by the carriage of the lifting mechanism. This object is attained by providing wheels which act as spacers engageable by the lifting carriage and can be retracted so that the carriage will simultaneously and directly engage both sections of the drop-table.

4 Another object of the invention is to provide improved lifting mechanism for the drop-table in which the screw-posts for shifting the lifting carriage are rotatable and have their lower ends confined in housings on which are mounted standards for holding the upper ends of the posts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drop-table which is efiicient in operation and facilitates the handling of wheels and trucks in drop-pits.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a drop-table embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the drop-table and the lifting mechanism for the table, the 5 lifting carriage of said mechanism being shown as engaging the central drop-table section for independently raising or lowering it.

Fig. 3 is a section of the drop-table and lifting mechanism on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. 10

Fig. 4 is a section illustrating the central droptable section on the lifting carriage and in position to discharge a pair of wheels onto or receive them from a track at floor level, at one side of the pit.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section illutrating both sections of the drop table engaged directly by the lifting carriage, for conjointly 20 raising or lowering both table-sections.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line ll of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical section illustrating one of the spacers on the central drop-table section in position to be engaged by the lifting 25 mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a similar section illustrating the spacer retracted and the lifting carriage directly engaging said section. I

The invention is exemplified with a shop installation which comprises a series of tracks in any suitable number on the floor of the shop with rails 22 terminating at the sides of a transverse pit a which intersects the tracks, and a droptable structure provided with rail-sections for bridging the pit. A trolley carrying the lifting mechanism is adapted to travel on rails c on the bottom of the pit, and comprises a truck which. is composed of side beams d and cross beams 03' rigidly secured together to form a frame for supporting the lifting mechanism and wheels d adapted to travel on the rails c. A lever d carries a two-way pawl for engaging a toothed wheel 61 on the cross axle for one pair of the wheels d so that the trolley and lifting mechanism can be propelled in the pit. A table-engaging lifting carriage e comprises pairs of cross beams e rigidly connected by longitudinal beams e to form a rigid vertically movable table-lifting structure. A bracket e is fixed to, and extends between two of the beams e at each corner of the carriage e and is provided with a socket c (Fig. 7) to receive and non-rotatively hold, a nut a The mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage e comprises a series of four screw-posts the lower ends of which are journaled in bearings in the lower section 1" of a gear-housing which is fixedly secured between the longitudinal beams c2 of the trolley frame. The posts I are threaded to the nuts e which are non-rotatively held in brackets e and support the carriage e. Rotation of the posts will raise and lower the nuts and the carriage e. The upper ends of screw-posts f are journaled in bearings I which are provided at the upper ends of I-beam standards F. The lower ends of standards I are fixedly secured to the cover sections which are secured to the housing sections. These standards, which are rigid with the trolley-frame, serve to rotatively support the screw-posts I and hold their upper ends against lateral displacement. The screw-posts f are operable by power to raise and lower the carriage e and the droptable when it is superimposed on the carriage. The power mechanism comprises a bevelled gear g fixed to the lower end of each of the screwposts and in the housing-section J, an electric motor 9 mounted on the trolley frame and connected to drive suitable speed-reducing gearing g a shaft 9 driven by the speed-reducing gearing 9 bevelled pinions g fixed to the ends of shaft 9' and meshing with the gears g at one end of the trolley, bevelled pinions g meshing with the aforesaid gears, respectively, and fixed to longitudinal shafts g and bevelled pinions g which are driven by shafts g respectively, and mesh with bevelled gears g on the screw-posts f at the other end of the trolley. The motor 9" I is of the reversible type so that the gearing operated thereby may be driven to rotate the screwposts 1 in opposite directions to raise or lower the lifting carriage e. The sections f, which are fixed to the trolley frame, and the section I to which the standards I are fixed, are shaped to form housings for respectively enclosing the bevelled gears g and the bevelled pinions meshing therewith. These housings are adapted to retain lubricant and to exclude dust and dirt from the gears. A packing-ring f is provided in each housing section I to prevent the escape of lubricant. This exemplifies a housing for the gearing for driving the screw-posts, which supports the standards i and retains lubricant for the gears and bearings for the gears and the screw-posts. It also provides a construction which permits ready access to the gears because the sections i are readily removable with the standards from the housing sections I which are fixed to the trolley frame.

The invention is exemplified in a drop-table which is composed of an outer section 72 and an inner section It. The pit or is of sufficient width to receive a complete engine trailer, tender or car truck. The entire drop-table is adapted to bridge the pit, to receive such trucks when it is in its track-bridging position and to raise or lower such trucks when the table is superimposed on the lifting carriage e.

The outer table section is built up of side beams h of I-beam stock of suificient length to extend across the pit and between the ends of the rails b which terminate at the sides of the pit, and cross-beams m, which are rigidly secured to the beams h to form a rigid rectangular framestructure. The outer table section h has a rectangular opening at its center between the beams h and 71 and the inner table section is fits into said opening. Beyond each end of said rectangular opening the outer table section has a portion of suflicient area to support a pair of wheels, and

these end portions are rigidly joined by the side beam h. This opening is of sufficient area for dropping a pair of wheels between the wheels on the end portions of the outer section h. The inner table section is is composed of outer channelbeams 70 and inner I-beams k, which are rigidly connected together by cross-beams 70 This inner table section is adapted to extend into the central rectangular opening in the outer table section it, is of sufficient area to form a rigid supporting section of the table for a pair of wheels. The ends of the outer table section h are provided with rail sections h and the inner table section It is provided with rail sections 10 which are aligned with the rails b on the floor of the shop. These rail sections 719, it, when the drop-table is supported at the floor or track level, complete the railway track over the pit and across the rail sections 1;. The outer table section It is supported in pit-bridging position by a series of four bolts 20 which straddle, and are horizontally slidable on, the vertical webs of the side beams h and are adapted to be projected into recesses H in the side walls of the pit. The bolts 20' at either side are slidable into and out of operative position by a hand lever 23 which is fulcrumed in one of the beams h and arms for shifting links 24 to which said bolts are connected. By means of these levers and bolts, the outer table section may be secured in trackbridging position while the inner table section is in, or is removed from, the outer table section.

The inner table section It is adapted to be latched to and supported by the outer table section and released therefrom for independent vertical movement by a series of four bolts 26 which straddle and are slidably mounted on the longitudinal beams k of table section is and are adapted to be projected so as to rest on the lower flanges of the inner cross-beams k of the outer table section h to support the inner section from the outer table section at track-bridging level. These four bolts are conjointly shiftable to project them into and out of said beams h by a hand-lever 27 which is fixed to a cross-shaft 28, which is journaled in and extends through the longitudinal beams I2 and carries arms for shifting links 29 which are connected to all of the bolts 26, respectively. This exemplifies means for releasably latching the inner table section to the outer table section, so that the two sections may be supported to bridge the pit or for conjoint vertical movement, or released for independent vertical movement of the inner table section. There is sufficient clearance between the upper flanges of beams 7L2 and bolts 26 to permit the inner table section to be raised slightly, to free the bolts for retraction. There is also sufficient clearance in sockets 2| above bolts 20 to permit the outer table section to be raised to free said bolts for retraction.

The lifting carriage e is provided with a pair of longitudinal rails 30 which are fixed to the top of beams e and underlie the table sections and are preferably under or in the vertical planes of the rail sections on the table sections. These rails 30, when the carriage is lifted, raise the entire table for raising or lowering, and directly engage the cross-beams 71. of the outer table section and the cross-beams k of the inner table section. The carriage will then directly and conjointly or unitarily raise or lower the entire droptable and the load thereon. This makes it possible to drop an entire engine trailer, tender, or car truck into the pit.

The outer table section h is preferably provided with flooring over the beams 72 between rail sections b and between said rail sections and beams h to cover the spaces between the beams. Openings h are formed in the flooring to permit the standards and screw-posts f to pass upwardly through the outer table section in lowering said section. The inner table-section is also provided with flooring between beams 7c and also between rails 76 and beams k to cover the spaces in said table section.

When the outer table section it is locked in track-bridging position and the bolts 26 for supporting the inner table section It from the on er section, are retracted, and the inner table section is released, the latter, when superposed on the carriage e, may be dropped, independently or" the outer table section. This makes it possible to lower one of several pairs of wheels of a truck over the table when that pair is spotted over the inner table section, while other pairs of adjacent wheels are resting on the ends 01" the outer table section.

In practice, it is sometimes necessary to raise one of several pairs of wheels resting on the droptable for making repa rs or for disconnecting that pair from the truck preparatory to dropping it into the pit. For this purpose, the wheels to be raised are spotted on the inner table section It and retractable means are provided for causing the lifting-carriage e to engage the inner table section and lift it above track-level independently of the outer table section. This means comprises two pairs of wheels 32 which are journaled in brackets These brackets are piv otally supported so they can be swung to bear against the under side or the longitudinal beams is and are fixed to shafts which are journaled in brackets which are fixed to beams 7c. The rollers 32 adapted to be engaged by the tracks 3G on the lifting-carriage and serve as spacers between the inner table section is and the carriage e for raising said section while the outer table section remains at pit-bridging level. When the rollers 3'2 and brackets 33 are swung out of the path of the lifting carriage c, the rails 3% will be clear to engage both the outer and inner sections of the table for conjoint shift thereof. The rollers 32 and brackets 33 are shiitab-le into and out of operative position by mechanism comprising gear-wheels 3'5 iixed to shafts worm-wheels 38 fixed to a cross-shaft 38, which is journaled in brackets which are fixed to beams is, a sprocketwheel ll fixed to one end of shaft 39, and a pendant-chain d2 whereby the sprocket ll may be rotated manually by an operator in the pit. When the brackets 33 with rollers 32 are swung downwardly and laterally, as shown in Fig. 9, the rails til on the lifting carriage 6 will clear the rollers 32 and brackets 33 permit said rails to directly engage the cross-beams of both of the table sections. When the rollers are swung under the beams is, as shown in Fig. 8, rails til will engage the rollers, so that the carriage 6 will lift the inner table section and the single pair of wheels thereon independently of the outer table section and the wheels on that section.

When the inner table section with a pair of wheels thereon has been dropped from the truck, that section will be supported on the lifting carriage with rollers 32 engaging rails In order to retain the inner table section against longitudinal movement and aligned with the rectangular opening in the outer table section, a latching device (Fig. 8) is provided, which consists of a plunger 34 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement in one of the beams of lifting carriage e and is adapted to enter a socket 35 in one of the roller-carrying brackets 33. A spring as holds the plunger i l normally raised. To release the plunger from said bracket 33, the operator will step on the head fixed to the plunger. Normally, the plunger projects into the pa h of said bracket 33 when it is swung under the beam is, so that when the inner table section is rolled over the rails Ell on the lifting carriage, theplunger is will automatically snap into socket to, when said section reaches its central position on the lifting-carriage where it will be aligned with the opening in the outer table section.

The purpose of providing rollers 32 for carrying the in ier table section is is to permit that section to be shifted to either side of the pit after the pair of wheels has been dropped from the truck, moved in the pit, raised to floor level, and transferred to another track in the shop. When the bolt i l is released, the table section is may be rolled on rails 39 of the carriage e to either side of the pit to bring the ends of the rail sections 7: close to the ends of the rails b of the track to which the wheels are to be transferred. When the inner table section has been thus shifted to discharge the pair of wheels, two of the bolts 26, which are normally used to support the inner table section 70 from the outer section it, may be shifted through lever 2?, to prosaid belts into sockets in beams built in the side walls of the pit. These sockets are provided with lugs to interfit with depending ribs on the ends of bolts 26 so that the inner table section will be locked to the pit during the transfer or the wheels to the adjacent track. s exemplifies an inner table section which is s- {table from its central position on the lifting carriage to either side of the pit for transferring the load and locking the section to the pit during the transfer, and preventing it from tipping.

The operation will be as follows: Normally both ections 72, 7c of the table are locked at track level, the outer rectangular section it being supported by bolts 28 from the pit walls and the inner table section being supported by the bolts 2% from the outer table section. When a truck which is to be removed from the rolling stock has been spotted on the entire table and is to be dropped, the lifting carriage e is raised so its rails 33 will directly engage the cross-beams of both of the drop table sections. When the bolts 2i; are released, the truck may be lifted slightly above track level, so it can be disconnected from the car or locomotive. When disconnected, the lifting carriage 2 may be lowered into the pit, so the trolley with the entire table can be transferred in pit, the carriage e raised to floor level at another track, and the Wheels rolled off the table. When it is desired to remove a single pair of wheels from the rolling stock, the wheels to be removed spotted on the inner table section is while the adjacent wheels are supported on the contiguous end portions of the outer table section it. While the lifting carriage e is lowered away from the table, the operator will manipulate chain 32 to swing the brackets 33 and rollers 32 under the beams is of the inner table section and over the rails Sit on the lifting carriage c. When carriage e is raised, its rails ill will engage rollers 32. The bolts 26 will then be retracted through lever 2? to release the inner table section 70 from the section h. If desired or necessary, the lifting carriage can then be raised a sufficient distance independently of the outer section to lift the pair of wheels on the inner section so they can be detached from the truck or repaired. If the pair of wheels is to be replaced or removed for repair, the carriage e is lowered so the wheels will clear the side-beams of the outer table section. The trolley with the inner table section thereon can then be shifted to a vacant track where the lifting carriage and its load will be raised while the section It is aligned with the said track. During this operation, the table section it will be locked against movement on the lifting carriage by the springpressed plunger 44. The operator will then release the plunger from bracket 33 and roll the wheels on table section 7c toward either side of the pit to bring the ends of the rail sections it close to the rails c of the track on the floor and will shift the bolts 21 to interlock with the lugs 59 in the contiguous pit wall so that the table section will be held against movement away from the wall and against tilting. The pair of wheels can then be rolled off the inner table section onto the track on the floor.

To replace the inner table section, it is first lifted slightly so its bolts 26 can be retracted by means of lever 21. This section can then be rolled to the center of the lifting carriage e where it will be arrested in its central position by the spring plunger 44. This section can then be dropped and transferred by the trolley into position so it can be lifted into the outer table section It and supported therein to complete the track across the pit.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted to bridge the pit, of a plurality of sections, one of the sections being disposed within and adapted to be dropped independently of the other, means for supporting both ends of the outer table section from the walls of the pit, releasable supporting means between the sections, and rollers for the inner section to permit it to travel crosswise of the pit when supported on lifting mechanism, said rollers being movable under the inner sections for engagement by the lifting mechanism, for lifting the inner section above the outer section and into position to render both sections engageable by the lifting mechanism.

2. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted to bridge a pit, of a plurality of section, one of the sections being disposed within, and adapted to be dropped independently of the other, means for releasably supporting both ends of the outer section from the walls of the pit, releasable supporting means for the inner section between the sections, a lifting carriage provided with tracks, and rollers on the inner section movable into and out of position to be engaged by the tracks, the tracks being adapted to directly engage both table sections when the rollers are shifted out of position to be engaged by the tracks.

3. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted to bridge a pit, of an outer section having end portions adapted to drop wheels and an inner section centrally disposed in the outer section and adapted to drop a pair of wheels independently of the outer section, means for latching the outer section across the pit, means for releasably supporting the inner section from the outer section, wheels on the inner section to permit travel of the inner section crosswise of the pit when it is supported on lifting mechanism, and means for holding the inner section against crosswise movement of the pit on lifting mechanism when it is dropped from the outer section.

4. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted to bridge a pit, of a plurality of sections, one of the sections being disposed within and adapted to be dropped independently of the other, means for supporting both ends of the outer table section from the walls of the pit, releasable supporting means between the sections, rollers for the inner section to permit it to travel crosswise of the pit when supported on lifting mechanism, and means for releasably latching the inner section in position to pass into the outer section.

5. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted to bridge the pit, of a plurality of sections, one of the sections being disposed within and adapted to be droppedindependently of the other, means for supporting both ends of the outer table section from the walls of the pit, releasable supporting means between the 7 sections, rollers for the inner section to permit it to travel crosswise of the pit when supported on lifting mechanism, a lifting carriage, and means on the lifting carriage for releasably holding the inner section against such crosswise movement and in position to pass into the outer section.

6. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted to bridge a pit, of a plurality of sections, one of the sections being disposed within, and adapted to be dropped independently of, the other, means for supporting both ends of the outer table section from the walls of the pit, releasable supporting means for the inner section between the sections, rollers for the inner section to permit it to travel crosswise of the pit when supported on lifting mechanism, a lifting carriage provided with tracks for engaging the rollers, and means for directly latching the inner table section directly to one side of the pit when it is supported by the lifting carriage.

7. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted to bridge a pit, of a plurality of sections, one of the sections being disposed within, and adapted to be dropped independently of, the other, means for supporting both ends of the outer table section from the walls of the pit, releasable supporting means for the inner section between the sections, rollers for the inner section to permit it to travel crosswise of the pit when supported on lifting mechanism, a lifting carriage provided with tracks for engaging the rollers, and means for directly latching the inner table section directly to either side of the pit when it is supported by the lifting carriage.

8. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted to bridge a pit, of a plurality of sections, one of the sections being disposed within, and adapted to be dropped independently of, the other, means for releasably supporting both ends of the outer table section from the walls of the pit, releasable supporting means between the sections, a lifting carriage provided with tracks on which the inner section can travel crosswise of the pit, spacing means for independently lifting the inner section, and means for directly latching the inner table section to the carriage and against crosswise travel when it is supported by the lifting carriage.

9. In drop pit apparatus, the combination of a drop table comprising a plurality of sections, one of which is adapted to be dropped either with, or independently of, the other, lifting and lowering mechanism for said table, means for releasably supporting the table from the walls of the pit, and rollers for the travel of the independently lowerable section transversely of the pit on table lifting and lowering mechanism.

10. In drop pit apparatus, the combination of a drop table comprising a plurality of sections, one of which is adapted to be dropped either with, or independently of, the other, lifting and lowering mechanism for said table, means for releasably supporting the table fro-m the Walls of the pit, and rollers mounted on the independently lowerable section for travel transversely of the pit and on table lifting and lowering mechanism.

11. In drop pit apparatus, the combination of a drop table adapted to bridge the pit and comprising a plurality of sections, one of which can be dropped independently of the other, means for releasably supporting the table from the pit, a lifting carriage for the table, and rollers and tracks for the travel of the lowerable section on the carriage and transversely of the pit.

12. In drop pit apparatus, the combination of a drop table adapted to bridge the pit and comprising a plurality of sections, one of which can be dropped independently of the other, means for releasably supporting the table from the pit, rollers carried by the independently lowerable section, and a lifting carriage provided with tracks on which the rollers can travel on the carriage and transversely of the pit.

LOUIS D. HOLMES. 

